4 Ways To Prepare Your Home For Houston’s Next Winter Freeze

For a city that regularly reaches incredibly high temperatures in the summer months, a cold front in Houston is typically a welcomed guest. However, when the temps dip to freezing and below, many Houstonians are unsure of how to proceed.

Unlike northern states that are used to an annual freezing climate, Houston is known for closing down businesses and schools. This is because many people that live here simply don’t know how to safely drive on icy roads.

One of the most unfortunate side effects of freezing temperatures in the Houston area is the propensity for busted pipes. If the water in your pipes freeze, the ice expands and can cause the pipe to rupture – resulting in serious water damage. This homeowner experienced a collapsed kitchen ceiling during the freeze of February 2021.

Here’s How To Prepare Your Home For The Next Winter Freeze

Houston’s meteorologists help us prepare for hurricanes, flooding, and of course, freezes. When your favorite local news personality begins to warn of an upcoming freeze, it’s best to begin preparations immediately. Otherwise, you may find yourself shivering in the cold with a flashlight in a last minute attempt to insulate your home to ensure a warm place for your family to ride out the weather – or worse. 

Save our number – (713) 250-8800 – in your phone today to be prepared in case the worst occurs.

1. Inspect & Prepare Pipes

When it’s freezing outside, the last thing you want is water to begin gushing through your home due to a busted pipe. Not only is this dangerous to you and your family’s health, but it could also result in terrible and expensive damage to your home. 

To avoid catastrophe in your home, start by inspecting ALL of your pipes – inside, outside, and under your house if it is on a pier and beam foundation. If you notice any leaks, make sure to have those repaired immediately. You don’t want to go into a freeze with faulty pipes!

The next step is to insulate your pipes. Insulation tape, foam wrap, and outdoor water faucet covers are great for insulating. There are plenty of options available online and at your local hardware store. However, these will run out fast when a freeze is approaching. Make sure to get your materials early! If you’re unable to find these materials, you can wrap your pipes with towels at the very least.

If Your Pipes Are In Your Attic…

Homes with slab foundations typically have the bulk of their home’s water pipes in the attic. Make sure to seal any gaps that allow airflow into your home and insulate all pipes. Furthermore, open your attic door to allow heat from your home to rise into your attic to help keep the air around your pipes warm.

For Your Outdoor Pipes…

Pipes that are exposed or even just near the ground surface are more likely to rupture if not insulated. Make sure to do a perimeter check and properly insulate all outdoor pipes, spigots, and faucets.

Many older homes in Houston have pier and beam foundations. If this is your home, then you likely have exposed pipes under your house. Don’t assume that they will stay warm down there. Instead, treat them as you do the rest of your outdoor pipes. 

Additionally, don’t forget to drain and insulate your water softener system or your sprinkler’s backflow prevention device. Items like these are often overlooked and lead to disastrous outcomes. 

Moreover, if you have an irrigation system, locate and insulate any pipes that may be protruding from the ground with a warming sock (a piece of insulation designed to go over the pipe). 

For outdoor faucets, we recommend using a faucet cover. When placing the cover over the faucet, secure the lead around the faucet or handle. Then, pull the string from the outside to make it secure. 

2. Drain & Shut Off Water 

When a freeze is predicted to be particularly severe, a pipe bursts, or you lose power, you may need to shut off the water to your house and drain the pipes. 

There are typically two isolation valves in each home. Usually, there is one inside your home and another outside near your meter. The one inside your home is often located near where the water enters the house. To turn it off, you’ll turn the gate valve. 

If your home does not have an interior isolation valve or if the gate valve fails, you’ll need to locate your shutoff valve. This is likely located in a box near the front of your yard. Inside, there will likely be a turn switch unless a key is needed to shut off the water.

Additionally, if you do shut off water to your home, you will need to drain the pipes. To do this, open the faucet or valve farthest from and closest to your isolation valve to allow the water to drain quickly. 

Address The Water Heater 

If turning off the water to your home, it’s important to not forget about your water heater. To avoid the coils overheating from a lack of water or the pilot light going out, set your water heater to low or vacation mode if that’s an option.

Whether your home suffers damage from water, fire and smoke, mold, or something else – we can help. Visit our website to learn more and save our number (713) 250-8800 in your phone today in case you ever need us.

3. Seal Gaps To Prevent Cold Drafts

Another way to keep you, your family, and your home safe during a freeze is to seal any gaps. There’s nothing like a drastic drop in temperature to make a drafty window go from a minor inconvenience to a major one.

This is why it’s a good idea to ensure all your windows and doors are properly caulked at least once a year. If there are gaps in your door or window frames, or anywhere in your home, attic, or garage, patch or cover them to prevent cold air from entering your home. Doing so will keep you and your family warm and will help prevent your pipes from freezing. 

4. Protect Your Outdoor Plants

Whether you invested money or your own blood, sweat, and tears into your landscaping, you definitely want to protect your plants. If you are able to, bring all potted plants indoors prior to a freeze. 

As for outdoor plants in the ground or pots that are too heavy to move, you can keep them warm with plant covers. There are several different products to keep plants safe during a freeze. However, you want to make sure your plant covers are waterproof so they don’t get wet, freeze, and create an even colder environment for your landscaping. 

PuroClean Is Here To Help If The Next Winter Freeze Damages Your Home

Annual home maintenance plays a major role in how your home makes it through any storm. Roof leaks will become apparent with rain, an unmaintained HVAC system may give out during the coldest or hottest days of the year, and a small pipe leak could flood your entire home during a freeze. But if you stay on top of annual maintenance and checkups, you will likely avoid dealing with severe damage.

At PuroClean of Northeast Houston-Beltway, we sincerely hope that you don’t find yourself in need of our emergency services. But if you do, we will be ready to help you through any type of home disaster. 

Save our number 713) 250-8800 in your phone today and visit our website to learn more about PuroClean!